Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Jimmy Appudurai-Chua: A Tribute From Ronald Ho [Meltones]


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TRIBUTE to JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA 

It was supposed to be a sunny day but the news early this morning that Jimmy Appudurai-Chua, my very good friend, my Meltones bandmate, my classmate from 1955 at St Patrick’s passed away in hospital in England at 8.30pm 29, August 2023 made my sun set. His 76th birthday is 31, August – just two days away.

Jimmy spent most of his adult life in the world of music playing his guitar gleefully and wonderfully. He was happiest with a guitar in his hands. From the Meltones in the 60s to the Straydogs in the 70s and many gigs, he left for England and continued playing music with many bands including the UK Meltones.

Jimmy is one of the nicest people to have walked this earth. He was always cheerful and positive, never had an unkind word and always encouraging others. He lived simply, loved his char-siew, always loyal to his friends and a kampong boy at heart.

From the sandy road of Jalan Sempadan to the green fields of St Patrick’s, Jimmy grew up playfully and happily with his close friends.  From the music stages in Singapore to the music stages in the UK, Jimmy entertained with his guitar skills and in synch with his band-mates. And for his undying love for Mary, the mother of Jesus, he now walks into her arms in heaven. 

Ronald Ho. 

30 August 2023. 10.27 am.

Image: FB Copyrights Reserved

Thanks to Ronald for keeping in touch and writing this piece within an hour, when he confirmed Jimmy had passed away. 

Jimmy Appudurai-Chua with The Meltones. 
Ronald Ho sings: The Young Ones.
Esplanade Theatre: 10 March 2017
YouTube Video: Fabian Foo.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 
at least credit the blog and me because copying is stealing.
Andy.

Connecting to other Jimmy A's posts: 
1. his life story.
2. with Meltones and

30 comments:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Ronald wrote this tribute within an hour upon confirming that Jimmy had passed away.

ROSE KHOO said...

Rose Khoo
RIP Jimmy Appudurai-chua

DAVID CHEN said...

Davy Chan
RIP 🙏 Jimmy Amen

MICHAEL LEE [SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA] said...

Michael Lee
Kept in touch until there was no response from his mobile. Besides being a guitarist he was also an excellent photographer. May he rest in peace.

FREDA HANUM said...

Freda Hanum
So very sad to hear of this news....May his soul RIP dear friend Jimmy Appudurai-chua 🙏🥲🌹
Tomorrow 31st August is his birthday, I even made a birthday card for him🥲

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Andy Young
Freda Hanum hi, send the card if you can. We'll blog it on his post.
Thanks Freda.

CHIT CHAT said...

Freda Hanum
Michael Lee
Jennie Law
Stephen Han
Rose Khoo
Hiroshi Deguchi
Colin Colin
Yip Dick
Jalani Mohamed
Betts Manry-Chua
Ser Kiong Tan
Lim Nance
Davy Chan
John Klass
Chow Wen Hing

THANKS TO THE ABOVE FRIENDS OF JIMMY
FOR THE MESSAGES, CONDOLENCES AND LOVE

Richard Ang said...

From Richard, original meltones bandmate:

Jim, you've been so much a part of our meltones and secondary school memories and also your positive kind words which encouraged me on many occasions, now you are in eternity with the saints, who will give you endless joy and heavenly music to hear and play forever..and especiallywith Mother Mary, who you had a.special love for....adios our good friend, thanks for the wonderful memories..

FREDA HANUM said...

Freda Hanum
Andy Young
I edited this birthday card for Jimmy earlier for his birthday tomorrow 31st August cos I remember it falls on Malaysia Merdeka day...indeed what a shock I got when I received news earlier in whatsapp from a friend Philip that he had passed on ...

Oh my my... I can't believe what I read !

Attached here Andy as you request this birthday card I want to post in his fb tomorrow....RIP dear Jimmy Appudurai-chua ,🙏🙏🙏.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Andy Young
Freda Hanum Or we'll just leave it here for the moment, I'm sure there are many more friends of his who will read this post. Thanks Freda, it's really a beautiful collage of Jimmy in action!!!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Many more messages coming in.

FABIAN FOO [VIDEO ENTHUSIAST] said...

Andy
So sad to know that Jimmy had passed on.
This is the only video I have taken with jimmy in action.
You may include it in your post.

STEVE GOH said...

Steve Goh
R. I. P. Jimmy.....

Cedric Collars said...

RIP Jimmy and my condolences to your family. Sadly we have lost yet another Singapore musical icon. History will leave us with the music you left us all. Sadly the countdown is progressing.

Anonymous said...

Very sad news.

I never knew the Meltones, but Straydogs were great.

RIP Jimmy

Steve

Malcolm said...

Malcolm Alphonso
A person who knew the meaning of the word 'FRIEND'.
A Loyal friend who demonstrated unconditional friendship always & never turned away from his friends.
Cared so much for the Meltones & stuck with us right to the very end.
May your Soul find eternal peace.

COLIN KEE [THE CHENDOL MAN] said...

Colin Colin
So sorry to hear of your fellow musician friend. My deepest condolences 🙏 to the family.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Andy Young
Colin Colin hi, very good on the guitar. Truly blues guy. Sad.

CHIT CHAT said...

Jalani Mohamed
RIP JIMMY

Rose Khoo
RIP Jimmy Appudurai-chua

Hawk Chen
RIP 🙏

Manny Said
A great man, with a good heart and a massive talent. A sudden news to comprehend. Rest In Peace Jimmy my good man. You’ll be missed dearly.

ERICBRONSON WONG [HONGKONG] said...

Ericbronson Wong
TᖇᑌᒪY ՏO Տᗩᗪ TO ᕼᗴᗩᖇ Տᑌᑕᕼ ᑌᑎᗷᗴᒪIᗴᐯᗩᗷᒪᗴ ᑎᗴᗯՏ,, I ᑕOᑌᒪᗪ ᕼᗩᖇᗪᒪY ᗷᗴᒪIᗴᐯᗴ Տᑌᑕᕼ TᗴᖇᖇIᗷᒪᗴ ᑎᗴᗯՏ,,ᑕᗩᑎ IT ᗷᗴ Tᖇᑌᗴ ᑕOᑌᒪᗪ IT ᗷᗴ ᒍᑌՏT ᗩ ᗷᗩᗪ ᗪᖇᗴᗩᗰ Oᖇ ᗩ ᘜᕼᗩՏTᒪY ᒍOKᗴ,,!!

Iᖴ IT IՏ ᑎOT ᗩ ᑭᖇᗩᑎK,,I ᗯIᒪᒪ ᗩᒪᗯᗩYՏ ᖇᗴᗰᗴᗰᗷᗴᖇ ᒍIᗰᗰY ᗩՏ ᗩ ᗰᗴᒪᗩᑎᑕᕼOᒪY ՏOᖴT ՏᑭOKᗴᑎ ᖴᖇIᗴᑎᗪ ᗯITᕼ ᗩ ᕼᗴᗩᖇT Oᖴ ᘜOᒪᗪ,,ᗰᗩY ᕼIՏ ՏOᑌᒪ ᖇᗴՏT Iᑎ ᑭᗴᗩᑕᗴ

🌿🌿💐💐🕊️🕊️😢😢🙏🙏

CHIT CHAT said...

Ivor Lesslar
RIP JIMMY 🙏🌹

Poh Huat Tng
Rip Jimmy.

Irene Yap
Just woke up to see this shocking news. Sad news indeed! He was such a nice gentle soul. RIP Jimmy!

Davy Chan
RIP 🙏 Amen

CHIT CHAT said...

Andy Young
Thank you all for your comments on Jimmy. I am just hoping our local SG newspapers will tribute him too. I think he deserves the accolade.

Ericbronson Wong
Andy Young YᗴՏ ᒍIᗰᗰY IՏ Oᑎᗴ Oᖴ ᗪ ᗰᗩᑎY OTᕼᗴᖇՏ TᕼᗩT ᗪᗴՏᗴᖇᐯᗴՏ Տᑌᑕᕼ ᗩᑎ ᕼOᑎOᑌᖇ,,

CHIT CHAT said...

Peter Lim
RIP, Jimmy .... rest well in heaven ... farewell!!

Freda Hanum
Indeed a big shock...Just can't believe it....may his soul RIP dear Jimmy Appudurai-chua 🙏🥲

Kali Dass S
R I P Jimmy

Elly Gwee
Oh noooooo....Uncle Jimmy passed on?? What happen ?

Steve Goh
R. I. P Jimmy...
My deepest condolences to d family.

FRED CHING said...

Fred Ching
Brother Andy, appreciate your update and posting of our dear friend Jimmy. Only the tender mercy of God did I ever get to meet my idol, with a group of musician friends and I thank him for his contributions to our Singapore music scene with The Straydogs.

Been thinking about Jimmy since his passing with this msg.. Jimmy is special and precious, and will always send me birthday greetings year after year. Beside, I wanted to remember and show what a wonderful person he was by sharing this b/d greeting and an update and some issues of his health to me in January 2023.

From our conversation, I gather he’s ill in health for sometime. Jimmy is well-loved from the outpouring tributes seen, as I write. He’s a wonderful person and had a gentle spirit, shown kindness and humility in his many posts.

God bless your soul..
R.I.P. Jimmy
😢

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Andy Young
Fred Ching hello. Yes, sad indeed. Thanks for sharing. We were in touch too using WA but he was always an amicable friend. I'm sure he's happier up there.

THANKING ALL FOLKS WHO SENT CODOLENCES TO JIMMY.
HE'S REALLY UNFORGETTABLE.
GOODBYE JIMMY

GOD BLESS

CHIT CHAT said...

Terence Lee
RIP

CHIT CHAT said...

Rocker Lee
RIP

STEVEN FARRAM [DR.] DARWIN UNI. said...


Hi Andy,

I was sad to hear that Jimmy Appudurai recently passed away, but in the Straits Times article about his death it says that Peter Thomas died just a few days earlier.

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/singapore-music-veteran-jimmy-appudurai-chua-of-blues-rock-band-the-straydogs-dies-at-age-76

I’ll be playing records by both Straydogs and The Boys tonight.

Keep well.

Regards

Steve

suituapui said...

God bless his soul may he rest in peace.
Jimmy Buffet passed away September 1st, 76 years old. He was very popular in the US.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hello SUITUAPUI
Thanks for writing.
My apologies if I reply so late.
I missed reading your letter.

Yes, another one bites the dust.
Jimmy Buffet was special, truly.